The
addition then of three hundred housecarls was required to give them
confidence. These had indeed abandoned for the time their armour, heavy
weapons, and solid formation, but they could still were it necessary gather
in a line, behind which the levies could rally, and which would be
impregnable to the undisciplined attacks of the Welsh.
The young thanes were somewhat disappointed at finding that they were not
to accompany the earl, but, as he told them, it was a mark of his
confidence that he should post them with the force where the fighting was
likely to be more severe and the risk greater than with that he himself
led.
"I shall penetrate into the heart of Wales," he said. "I shall have
horsemen with me, a strong force of trained soldiers and the levies, and
the enemy will, I feel sure, be unable to oppose us successfully; but it is
likely enough that when the Welsh find that my force from the south and
Tostig's from the north cannot be withstood, they will pour out on their
eastern frontier, and try to light such a flame in Worcester, Hereford, and
Gloucester, that we should be obliged to abandon our work, and hurry back
to stem the tide of their invasion. It is necessary therefore that from
this side also there should be a forward movement. My brother, Gurth, will
command here. I have strongly recommended you to him. Your experience in
the Breton war will be of assistance to you, and I have told him that you
can be far better trusted than many older than yourselves in carrying out
expeditions among their hills and valleys.
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